The pay offer amounted to yet another real-terms pay cut.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has declared their support after Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members voted to reject “a derisory pay offer”.
In a public statement released yesterday evening, the BMA said it stands “in solidarity with our nursing colleagues” and blames the current crisis on the Government’s failure to recognise the importance of healthcare professions.
Yesterday the RCN wrote to its members to confirm 54% of eligible members in the union voted to reject the pay deal. The union also had a record-breaking turnout with 61% of those eligible to vote taking part in the vote.
Under the proposed deal, NHS workers would have received a non-consolidated payment of between £1,655 and £3,789 for the 22/23 financial year, plus an average 5% rise for this year.
The union has called a strike immediately which will run continuously and without derogations from 8pm on 30 April to 8pm on 2 May 2023.
Doctors stand in solidarity.
BMA council chair, Professor Philip Banfield said in the statement, “We support the nurses in their rejection of a derisory pay offer and stand by them in their ongoing campaign for fair pay, upcoming strike action and re-ballot. Doctors stand in solidarity with our nursing colleagues; like doctors, these committed professionals have borne the brunt of an understaffed and under-resourced health service, giving their all only to be greeted with repeated cuts to their pay.
“The blame for the current situation lies squarely at the door of this Government who should have made the nurses a reasonable pay offer – one which reflected their value and sought to remedy years of underpayment.
Professor Banfield continued, “As with junior doctors in England, the Health Secretary needs to get around the table with unions and commit to paying doctors and their colleagues properly for the invaluable work they do, or staff will continue to leave and the service will deteriorate further.
“The decision by NHS Unison members to accept their pay offer will afford some relief to those who have struggled long and hard to get the pay they need, but it is clearly not at a level they truly deserve. We must do all we can to retain staff and recruit to the NHS, and protect patient care.”
